Compare towns
Acton vs Needham vs Springfield vs Belmont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Belmont has the oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Acton | Needham | Springfield | Belmont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155Lowest |
32,459 |
154,749Highest |
27,175 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
42.9±1 7% above MA |
| Acton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Belmont and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
80.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$183,137±$14k 76% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$1,159,000±$33k 106% above MA |
| Needham and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$2,527±$105Highest 43% above MA |
| Belmont and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±6.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
64.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
31.5%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #3 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Needham | Springfield | Belmont |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Needham High | Springfield Central High | Belmont High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
11.9Lowest |
12.2 |
15.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.